THE SABHA CONSTRUCTED IN FOURTEEN MONTHS

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - SABHA PARVA - SABHAKRIYA (UPA) PARVA - CHAPTER 3 - THE SABHA CONSTRUCTED IN FOURTEEN MONTHS

“Vaishampaayana said, “Then Maya Daanavaa addressed Arjuna, that foremost of successful warriors, saying, ‘I now go with your leave, but shall come back soon. On the north of the Kailaasa (modern day Mount Kailash in Himalayas) peak near the mountains of Mainaaka, while the Daanavaas were engaged in a yagna on the banks of Bindu lake, I gathered a huge quantity of delightful and multi-coloured bhaanda (a kind of rough materials) composed of jewels and gems. This was placed in the sabha of Vrishaparva ever devoted to truth. O Bharata (Arjuna), if it be yet existing, I shall come back with it. I shall then commence the construction of the delightful sabha of the Paandavaas, which is to be adorned with every kind of gems and celebrated all over the world.

“O you of the Kuru race (Arjuna), I think there is also a fierce club (Gada in Sanskrit) placed in the lake Bindu by the King (of the Danavas) after slaughtering therewith all his enemies in battle. Besides being heavy, strong and multi-coloured with golden knobs, it is capable of bearing great weight, and of slaying all enemies, and is equal in strength to an hundred thousand (100,000) clubs (Gada in Sanskrit). It is a fit weapon for Bhima, as the Gandiva is for thee. There is also (in that lake) a large conch-shell (Shankha in Sanskrit) called Devadatta of loud sound, that came from Varuna. I shall no doubt give all these to you.’

“Having spoken thus to Paarthaa (Arjuna), the Asura (Maya) went away in a north-easterly direction. On the north of Kailaasa in the mountains of Mainaaka, there is a huge peak of gems and jewels called Hiranya-sringa. Near that peak is a delightful lake of the name of Bindu. There, on its banks, previously dwelt king Bhagiratha for many years, desiring to see the Goddess Ganga, since called Bhagirathee after that king's name. O you best of the Bharatas (Janamejaya), there, on its banks, Indra – the illustrious lord of every created thing, performed one hundred great yagnas (Mahaayagna in Sanskrit). There, for the sake of beauty, though not according to the dictates of the Shaastraas, were placed yagna stambha made of gems and yagnakund of gold. There, after performing those yagnas, the thousand-eyed lord of Shachi (Lord Indra) became crowned with success.

“There the fierce Mahaadeva (Lord Shiva), the eternal lord of every creature, has taken up His abode after having created all the worlds and there he stays, worshipped with respect by thousands of spirits (Bhoota in Sanskrit). There Nara, Narayana, Brahma, Yama and Sthaanu (Lord Shiva) the fifth, perform their Satra at the expiration of a thousand yugas. There, for the establishment of virtue and Dharma, Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna), with religious devotion, performed his Satras extending for many, many long years. There were placed by Keshava (Sri Krishna) thousands and tens of thousands of yagna stambhas adorned with golden garlands and yagna kund of great splendour.

“O Bharata (Janamejaya), going there Maya brought back the club (Gada in Sanskrit) and the conch-shell (Devadatta Shankha in Sanskrit) and the various crystalline articles that had belonged to king Vrishaparva. The great Asura, Maya, having gone there, possessed himself of the whole of the great wealth which was guarded by Yakshaas and Raakshasaas. Bringing them, the Asura constructed therewith a peerless sabha, which was of great beauty and of divine make, composed entirely of gems and precious stones, and celebrated throughout the three worlds. He gave to Bhimasena that best of Gada, and to Arjuna the most excellent Shankhaa at whose sound all creatures trembled in awe.

“O monarch (Janamejaya), the sabha that Maya built consisted of columns of gold, and occupied an area of five thousand cubits (2.286 kilometers). The sabha, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like to that of Agni or Surya or Soma, shined in great splendour, and by its brilliance seemed to darken even the bright rays of Surya. With the brightness it exhibited, which was a mixture of both divine and terrestrial light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like to a mass of new clouds clearly visible in the sky, the sabha rose up coming into view of all. Indeed, the sabha that the skilled Maya built was so wide, delightful, refreshing, composed of such excellent materials, furnished with such golden walls and archways, adorned with so many varied pictures, and was in addition so rich and well-built, that in beauty it far surpassed Sudharma of the Daashaarha race, or the sabha of (Lord) Brahma Himself.

“Eight thousand Raakshasaas called Kinkaraas, fierce, huge-bodied and filled with great strength, of red coppery eyes and arrowy ears, well-armed and capable of travelling through the air, used to guard and protect that sabha. Within that sabha, Maya placed a peerless tank, and in that tank were lotuses with leaves of dark-coloured gems and stalks of bright jewels, and other flowers also of golden leaves. Aquatic birds of various species sported on its bosom. Itself multi-coloured with full-blown lotuses, stocked with fishes and tortoises of golden colour, its bottom was without mud and its water transparent. There was a flight of crystal stairs leading from the banks to the edge of the water. The gentle breezes that swept along its bosom softly shook the flowers that studded it. The banks of that tank were overlaid with slabs of costly marble set with pearls. Looking that tank thus adorned all around with jewels and precious stones, many kings that came there mistook it for land and fell into it with eyes open. Many tall trees of various kinds were planted all around the palace. Of green leaves and cool shade, and ever blossoming, they were all very charming to look upon. Artificial woods were laid around, always emitting a delicious fragrance. There were many tanks also that were adorned with swans, Kaarandavas and Chakravaakaas in the grounds lying about the sabha. The breeze bearing the fragrance of lotuses growing in water and (of those growing on land) assisted to the pleasure and happiness of the Paandavaas. Maya having constructed such a sabha within fourteen months, reported its completion to Yudhishthira.”